Status Report Neumayer Station III
February 25th 2009
February 9th 2009
January 30th 2009
Communication systems under installation – Power station put into operation
The operations proceed quickly under fine weather conditions. A first step to bring the station into service is the relocation of the satellite antenna to the Neumayer Station III beginning today. From today until February 4th, only limited communication is possible via Inmarsat.
Specialists from the ARGE for commissioning the station’s systems arrived on January 28th and immediately began work. The first test runs of the power station have already been conducted. Meanwhile, it is fully operational and supplies the station with essential warmth and electric energy.
The wind power plant is operational and will be installed in the coming days. The atmospheric chemistry observatory is also operational. Preparations to start measuring operations in the laboratories will begin as soon as the station is connected via the supply cable (over two kilometres long). The roof of the magnetic observatory is almost completed. In the meantime, the mast for the meteorological measuring field has been completely installed.
To sum it up, it can be observed that work in both technical and scientific areas proceeds nearly on schedule without serious problems and obstacles. Work at the construction site has been going on without interruption since November 6th 2008. The men of the ARGE construction team, colleagues of AWI logistics and the shipping company F. Laeisz as well as scientific staff and technicians of the AWI accomplishing the relocation and commissioning of the observatories do their utmost each day and achieve amazing results. Important milestones have been reached, yet the continuous high performance can also be felt. The people on site hope that the heavy toil is soon finished and the station put into commission.
Supply vessel MS Ivan Papanin is on target for the Atka Bay. The stowage plan for the backhaul of the construction camp, the heavy cranes and many containers is currently updated and aligned with the DROMSHIP coordinator.
January 25th 2009
Assembly of the observatories, test of the hydraulic system
Fitting-out of the outposts and the measurement fields of the scientific observatories proceeded under good weather conditions until January 18th. The containers for the atmospheric observatory are assembled on the steel platform in two kilometres distance and the supply cable is laid. Also, the laying of the infrasound system I27DE proceeds on schedule. The meteorological measuring field is constructed. The bearing structure of the wind power plant is finished by and large, which means that the generator can be installed and tested soon.
Weather conditions deteriorated during the last week so that only interior work could be continued because of heavy snow drift. Air traffic in western Droning Maud Land came to a standstill, too. The visit of the Monaco-Russian Reconnaissance Expedition January 20th had to be cancelled. The expeditionary group was not able to visit the stations Troll, SANAE IV and Neumayer Station III and had to fly directly to Cape Town from Novo Runway.
Interior work within the station building could be continued without interruptions. The main emphasis was on electric installations in the stairwell, assembly of the ventilation, heating and sanitary installations, and work on the insulation of the pipe installation of the snow melting facility and the block heating station (BHKW). The filling of the heating system could be completed on January 20th. About 4.200 litres of liquid fitted into the pipes, storage and the heat exchanger. Another milestone was the successful test run of the hydraulic system – a fundamental element in the conception of the station building. The test run lasted two days. The foundations were raised and relocated vertically. The raising of the whole building went ahead without problems as well.
The relocation of the old station continues. First equipment and appliances have already been transported into the new station building.
Seven ARGE engineers will be flown to the station on January 27th. Thereafter, extensive test runs and commissioning of the technical systems begin.
Supply vessel MS Ivan Papanin left Cape Town and is expected February 6th or 7th.
January 15 th 2009
Outer shell completed - Commissioning begins - Important visitors expected
The announced topping-out ceremony at the construction site Neumayer Station III took place on January 11th 2009. The construction team completed the assembly of the outer panels under continuing good weather conditions on January 15th. The station building is now completely closed. Interior work can be continued almost independently of weather conditions. After reaching this milestone, the construction management on site and the AWI’s contractual partners of the ARGE are convinced that the set goal can be reached until the end of the season and that the pilot operation during the first overwintering can begin.
The first important visitors on the construction site were announced these days for January 20th. His Serene Highness, the Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco is travelling the Antarctic and currently at the South Pole. Together with Dr. Artur Chilingarov, advisor of the President of the Russian Federation in matters concerning the international cooperation in the Acrtic and the Antarctic, and their staff consisting of 12 people they will later on visit several Antarctic stations. The delegation will visit the construction site for about two hours.
The last finishing touches to the installation of the technical systems will occur these days. At the same time, the outposts of the scientific observatories from the vicinity of the old station will be removed into the compound of the new station. The containers for the air-chemical observatory are already located on the steel platform completed during the last season. The array for the infrasonic station will be newly laid, the new magnetic observatory will be built, and the meteorological measuring field will be installed.
Supply vessel MS Ivan Papanin currently lies in Cape Town and takes the last freight and fuel to supply the Neumayer Station III on board. It will sail into the Atka Bay in two or three days. Another signal that the last stage will be reached soon: the return of the construction site equipment and the deconstruction of the construction site accommodations. The ship is expected on February 5th or 6th.
January 9th 2009
Topping-out ceremony of the Neumayer Station III is imminent
The assembly of the outer shell and the balloon hall on the roof of the building will presumably be completed at the end of next weekend. The ambitious aim to reach this milestone before the turn of the year was obstructed by weather conditions. Snowstorms typical of the Antarctic were raging between Christmas and right into the new year. Therefore, assembly work had to be suspended. After weather conditions had improved, massive snowdrifts had to be disposed of in the vicinity of the station and inside the unfinished building. We are content with the progress of building despite these circumstances. Bad weather periods cannot be excluded during the Antarctic summer.
After reaching this milestone, assembly work to erect the station building will basically be completed. At the same time, the installation of the operating systems began, which are to be taken into operation during the second construction phase.
Supply vessel MS Ivan Papanin lay in the Atka Bay at the beginning of the new year on January 3rd 2009. Cargo had again to be unloaded unto sea ice which was already becoming soft. This operation took place with nothing to report and was completed the following day.
Researchers and technicians from the AWI arrived at the station by plane on January 7th. This group will begin with the removal of the scientific appliances to the new station while the supply system is put into operation at the same time. This construction phase will be very difficult and demand the full effort of all people involved.
About eight weeks remain until the station is to take up its pilot operation and begin its first overwintering at the beginning of March.
We would like to specifically say thank-you to the construction team for the work done so far. We wish the AWI staff and the engineers and technicians from the ARGE success - which can only be achieved by further excellent cooperation.
December 19th 2008
RV Polarstern unloads cargo in the Atka Bay, assembly of the outer shell goes quickly ahead
Polarstern reached the vicinity of the Atka Bay in the evening hours of December 16th 2008. Unloading onto sea ice took place about twelve kilometres from the border of the ice shelf. The supply goods were unloaded within two days and then transported on sledges to the Neumayer Station II or to the construction site. Polarstern moved further westwards to the ice border of the Ekström ice shelf which is about 17 metres high on December 19th to deliver fuel. Afterwards, Polarstern departs from the Ekström ice shelf to continue scientific programmes.
The assembly of the panels for enveloping the platform goes quickly ahead on the construction site. If the high-pressure weather conditions remain stable, the important goal – assembly of the shell – can be completed on schedule. According to the construction management, there is even a small advance of two man-days.
As far as possible, there are also advances concerning the installation works. These include electricity work in the stairwell, examination of the measurement systems of the hydraulic installation, partial assembly of the ventilation, heating and sanitary systems, installation of the pipe system and wirings.
Dezember 8th 2008
Container modules brought into the platform, three expedition vessels leave Cape Town with the destination Antarctic
All container modules could be inserted into the platform’s steel construction until December 8th. Last, the modules with the BHKWs (power station) were assembled on the northern end of the platform. This means that all function units for the technical operation are on site. This important milestone was reached after four weeks of assembly under mainly favourable weather conditions. The assembly of the outer shell panels began at the same time. The completion of these assemblies is the next important goal which could be reached until Christmas – provided there is good weather – and which would be the best Christmas present for the people on site and those in charge in Bremerhaven.
Simultaneous to ongoing assembly work, measurement systems of the hydraulic system in the basement section were put into operation. The installations of the ventilating, heating and sanitary systems were begun where it was possible.
A meeting of the captains of MV Ivan Papanin, RV Akademik Federov and SA Agulhas took place in Cape Town on RV Polarstern on December 5th. Communication, exchange of information and mutual support in cases of emergency with the responsible South African authorities were coordinated at this meeting. In the meantime, the ships sailed into the Antarctic and thereby they opened the seamanly part of the Antarctic summer season. RV Polarstern is expected in the Atka Bay in the middle of December. MV Ivan Papanin’s first attempt is to take place at the beginning of January 2009. Before that, she will supply the Belgian station Princess Elizabeth and the Norwegian station Troll.
47 men of the construction team are presently in action. All efforts are exerted to quickly complete outside assemblies. The next two weeks will decide whether the project will be successful in starting the pilot operation at the beginning of the Antarctic winter.
November 25th 2008
Neumayer Station III – “Verschlosserung” of the upper timber-beam construction completed
The construction team achieved an important goal on November 23rd: the so-called “Verschlosserung” could be completed. This means that the upper timber-beam construction is now force-fit and screwed together with the lower bearing structure. Thus, the bearing elements of the whole steel construction of the future station building are completed and the assembly of the outer surface of the building can begin.
Assembly work went quickly ahead up to this day. Towards the evening, crane and assembly work had to cease because of heavy winds and snow drift. Interior work in deck U1 continues. The weather improved on November 25th so that things can go on quickly. On November 22nd 2008, 14 additional persons reached Neumayer Station III. Altogether, 44 people are currently in action on the construction site.
November 16th 2008
Neumayer Station III –DROMSHIP supply vessel MS Ivan Papanin departed from Antwerp
Supply vessel MS Ivan Papanin departed from Antwerp on November 14th. It is expected in the Atka Bay at the beginning of January. On board are twenty containers with supply goods, bulk goods, the wind power plant and fuels for the Neumayer III Station. MS Ivan Papanin is commissioned with the supply of the Norwegian Station Troll, the Belgian Station Princess Elizabeth and the Neumayer Station III in the framework of DROMSHIP.
28 additional men reached the construction site of Neumayer Station III on November 11th and 12th. There were no delays and weather conditions were ideal for flight missions.
Altogether, 30 men of the construction team are in action on the construction site. Further 25 men of AWI logistics, of the shipping company Laeisz and contracted companies work on the construction site, too, and at Neumayer Station II.
Work at the construction site began on November 5th. First, the construction camp was dug out of the snow and put into action without problems. Work on the steel construction already began on November 8th.The weather is currently fine and operations continue on schedule. The steel elements of the platform are presently assembled.
November 6th 2008
The first 17 employees of the Alfred Wegener Institute’s logistics department, the shipping company F. Laeisz and the ARGE construction team reached Neumayer Station III today. This starts the second season of construction on the Ekstrom Ice Shelf which is to start its pilot operation in the southern winter 2009.
Preparations in Bremerhaven and the international coordination for this largest project of German Antarctic research so far were already completed a few weeks ago. Research vessel Polarstern put out from Bremerhaven with supplies for the station on October 31st. It will reach Atka Bay in the middle of December. After unloading cargo it will continue the scientific work planned for the journey stage ANT XXV/2 in the southern Arctic Ocean.
Furthermore, ice-breaking supply vessel MV Ivan Papanin will supply the Norwegian and Belgian stations with goods in the framework of the international cooperation Dronning Maud Land Shipment (DROMSHIP) and head for Atka Bay twice. Loading takes place in Antwerp harbour from November 12th to 14th. Important scientific and technical equipment and fuels for the start of the pilot operation will be loaded on board the Ivan Papanin at the beginning of January. The complete construction material for the transport back to Germany will be taken on board in the middle of February.